Banding machine



E. c. sL AN BANDING MACHINE Jan. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23,1946 E. C. SLOAN BANDING MACHINE Jan. 8, 1952 Filed NOV. 25. 1946 4 seets-shat 2 Illill llll l.|||

INVENTOR. Edward C flo /Z, BY

Jan. 8, 1952 v c, s o 7 2,581,724

BANDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2:, 194a 4 Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

fig; 5622/62/45 6. 550m,

BY MW/MWALW Jan; 8, 1952 E. c. s-LoAN 2,581,724

' BANDING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 23. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v v INVENTOR-Eda/04561970072,

Patented Jan. 8, 1952 Edward C. Sloan, Madison, Wis., assignor 'toKartridg-Pak Machine 00., Chicago, 111., a. corporation of IllinoisApplication November 23, 1946, Serial No. 711,908

This invention pertains to improvements in a banding machine of the typeadapted to apply continuous web material in encircling relation to eachof a serie of aligned, advancing articles. An object of the invention isto provide an apparatus embodying synchronized provisions to efiect thecontinuous'feed of the articles to be fed, the association of thebanding material relative to the articles and the completion of thebanding operationwherein the Webmaterial is v sealed to itself betweenarticles, all in a much expedited and increasedly smooth fashion ascompared to existing comparable apparatus, and

with an improved, displacement-resisting seal of said material betweenthe articles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a banding machine ofthe type described having improved article feeding or advancing meansand a control therefor adapted to advance a succession of articles andassociate the same in uniform relation to one another, regardless ofvariations in the size of the articles, in combination with means forassociating and sealing web material relative to the articles in animproved high speed manner.

Yet another object is to provide article advancing means and'a'plurality of coacting sealing heads of the type described, wherein saidheads have a novel floating mounting rendering the same automaticallyself-adjusting relative to the article banded, during advance thereof bysaid means, notwithstanding differences in size of the articles.

Another object is to provide a banding machine of the characterdescribed, including a rotatable support carrying a plurality ofindividually operable banding or sealing heads, and means for actuatingsaid heads in uniformly timed relation to one another during a linearadvance thereof with the articles, for the purpose of banding asuccession of articles in a very rapid fashion.

Still further, a specific object of the invention i to provide aplurality of individually actuable banding or sealing heads carried onarotatively traveling support, each *head comprising a pair of coacting,relatively movable members, together with, cam controlled-means toeffect a predeterminedly synchronized actuation of said members inradial and transverse directions relative to the articles, whereby saidmembers are initially engaged with web material between the articles,then caused to seal said material while carried-bysaid support foradvance with the articles, i theirretracted to. an inoperative; position37 Claims. (Cl. 53-98) relative to the material and articles, incombination with article advancing means insuring a rapid translation ofthe article and heads during. the operation of the latter.

A still further object is to provide a machine. of the type describedincluding article advancing means, a web tucker operable inpredetermined relation to said means to position a web about: an articleadvanced thereby and a plurality of. traveling sealing heads adapted toalign automatically with the tucker, said heads each having coactingrelatively movable parts timed with respect to said tucker to efiectbanding and sealing of the web about each article of a series ofadvancing articles regardless of difference insize:

of the latter.

Another object is to provide novel articIeladvancing means including animproved'escape ment-type device insuring a pre-determinedly. timeddischarge'of the articles in a positive,2

controlled manner, regardless of substantial: variations in size of saidarticles." 1

The foregoing statements are indicativein a general way of the nature ofthe invention, but

other and more specific objects willhe apparent to those skilled in theart upona full understanding of the construction and operationof the'device.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, diagrammatic in character,illustrating th'e'assembly of article and web feeding means with thewebtucker,

banding and sealing instrumentalities, which as-' sembly constitutes thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in elevation,'viewedfrom a line generallycorresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 5, illustrating certain details of thearticle feeding, advancing and timing components of the "assembly,certainother parts having been omitted in order to simplify the showinFig. 2-A is a fragmentary view in vertical section, more particularlyillustrating the continu ously banded product of the present machine;Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryview in a radial 'sectionf through the rotaryspider or head support of the apparatus illustrated in Fig.lyapproxim'ately on line'"3 3 of'tha't figure, showing'certain detailsofconstruction and'relationship of the'elements constituting each of theindividualheads'f and their relation to said support;

materiahrespectively;

tain structural details of the article control means of Fig. 5. a

This invention pertains to improvements in an article banding machine ofthe general type illustrated and described in the earlier patent toSloan, No. 2,379,937 of July 10, 1945, and especially deals with theprovision of apparatus making possible a very rapid rate of banding, i.e., in the neighborhood of five times the output rate of previousrelated types of machines. Another very ad a eous feature is that thiscapacity is attained without regard to possible non-uniformities in sizeof the articles banded. While herein shown as a machine for banding eacharticle of, a series of generally rounded, elongated articles, such assausages, by the application of a paper Web orlike material inindividual encirclingrelation to the sausages, at the same timeconnecting a number of thus banded sausages in an equally spaced series,it will be evident from the descriptionto follow that the machine isequally applicableto a similar type of banding of numerone otherobjects.

In the present apparatus individual sealing operations are performedbetween each of a series of advancing articles by means of individualsealing heads carried by a rotary support, there being a large number ofsuch heads each having apair of relatively reciprooable sealing membersand each coacting' in closely timed relation to a further reciprooabletucker member. A full. and continued engagement of the members referredto with an advancing web of sealing material is had, said membersremaining in sealing engagement with said web throughout a substantialangle of arcuate travel of the support. Thus, a very effectivedisplacement resisting sealing of the web between the articles results,notwithstanding the markedly increased output. Inassociation withthe'foregoi'ng banding or sealing means I provide article control andadvancing means of an improved character insuring unfailingly uniformpositioning of the articles with reference to one another regardless ofvariations in size thereof, always apt to occur when articles such assausages are handled. illustrate a continuously banded series ofsausages or wieners, for the banding of which the present machine isparticularly devised. A package of this type is illustrated anddescribed in the pat-- 7 ner herein'contemplated.

Referring ,to, Fig. 3, in conjunction with Fig. 1,

7 frame It) has an extension or bracket; H which In Fig. 2-A lv has atransverse bore fixedly receiving a horizontal supporting shaft l2, saidshaft projecting forwardly of an enlarged boss E3 on bracket H. A rotarysupporting spider M has the hub thereof journaled on shaft l2 throughthe agency of ball-bearings l5 whereby to accomplish a free,anti-friction rotation of the spider. This spider serves as a supportfor a multiplicity of sealing and banding heads, here'generallydesignated l6, but to be later described in detail. Spider M is actuatedby a worm gear i7 concentric therewith, located relative to the hub ofthe spider, for assembly purposes, by means of a pin l8. The worm gearis fixedly secured to the spider by a plurality of bolts l9 and isdriven from a worm 20 suitably journaled in the frame I 8. The worm isin turn driven from any desired source of power in a well known manner.

A drive sprocket 2| is splined on a forward projection of the hub 22 ofthe worm gear l1 and functions as a means for actuating various otherinstrumentalities to be described. To this end I illustrate a continuousdrive chain 23 which passes around sprocket 2 l then around a similar,relatively mounted sprocket 24 on which a star shaped cam 25 is secured,thence around an appropriately journaled idler sprocket 2B, and thencearound a further rotary sprocket 26' to which a second star shaped cam21 is secured, before returning to sprocket 2|. 'In this manner spider Mis caused to travel in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1,and cams 25, 2'! are each rotated in the opposite, clockwise direction.These cams respectively control the actuation of certain articleadvancing means andweb tucking and banding means, hereinafter described,in predetermined Itimed relation to the controlled actuation of thesealing heads i6, as will appear.

The aforesaid article advancing means are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5and 6 and comprise an inclined sheet metal slide 28 over which the articles, herein illustrated as elongated wieners or sausages anddesignated 29, are advanced by any appropriate means, not constitutingpart of this invention. As they advancedown the slide, the articles arerestrained and controlled somewhat by the inclined upper retainer means30 until discharged, one by one, to the sealing and banding means. Thisoperation is controlled in a novel manner, to the endthat the articlesare fed forward in predetermined, unvarying relation to one another,regardless of possibly varying size or diameter thereof.

To the end noted, I. provide the escapement device illustrated in Figs.2, 5 and 6 and designated generally by the reference numeral 3i. Itconsists of three individually swingable escapement or control members32, 33, 34 provided with rearwardly extending pivot portions 35, 36, 3'!respectively which swing in parallel generally vertical planes about acommon pivot pin 38 carried by an extension 39 of machine frame H! (seeFig. 2). The pivot portion of member 32 is disposed between the othertwo pivot. portions and branches out forwardly in a forked construction,including the spaced parallel control arms 553 and 4!; while members 33,34, which are identical in shape, are offset away from one another,forwardly of the pivot point, lying parallel to and between said arms.

' The reference numeral 42 designates a reciprocable cam which controlsthe vertical movements of the members32, 33 and 34 by engaginga'follower roller 43 carried by arm 4| of the membr 3'2, Sedan '4': bein"t nie r t ii i i ii. on a lateral extension 4210f a,reciprocating ar-.

ticle advancing or pusher bar, 44' offju sh p strap metal outline (seeFig. 2 As, illustrated in i -.Lb r M asa. nar d s o dri n 9 1 nection toan actuating lever 45 whichfis' pivoted tothe machine frame at 46. Lever45 assa si follower roller 41, springurged against the surface of cam25, hence rotation of; can; through its chain drive is accompanied byoscillatory movement of the lever about its pivot, with attendanthorizontal reciprocation of the pusher bar .44. As a result of thismovement cam" 42 intermittently .engages follower I 43 to, elevate Fthecontrol arm 40 of member 32, which is in tegral' with "thefollower-carrying arm 4], from theso lid line position of .Fig ll. tothe dotted line v i i a T is ele s n. articl 9 n l srmi will unfailinglycome to rest at the proper banam pos tion .i ,whi its ra 9 r sr surfaceis always located at egractly the same point as that of every otherarticle with refer ence to a web tucker member, tobe described.

I The control members 33, 34 rrerr'ea a'abeve function to control thefeed of article's; such as wieners, which vary substantially in diameterfrom time to time. These members both under lie the article slide 28 asillustrated in Figs; 1 and 5, and the extremities thereofar offset 49to'enable them to projectthrough elongated apertures 49', 49", in theslide 28 as shown in Eigs. '2' an'd'5f' Members 33, Mars individuallyand yieldably connected to the forked member 32," for actuation therebyand for this purposermay employ -a transverse pin"50 projectingfroni'either side of the central"'pivotportion 35 of" member 32, withcoil tension springs 5| exte'r' c'ling -between pin 50 and similartransverse-pins52;"53' carried respectively by the pivot portions '36,3'! of the control 21111533, 34 respectively; Hence, as outer controlmember 32 is cam actuated to the'dotted'line, 'articlerelease positionthereof shown in'Fig". l,"fo rce istransmitted resiliently to thecontrol arms 33, 34 tending to elevate the same.

Upward movement of members 3334 governed by a' s'lidable apertured'shutter plate 54 guided in suitable, ways 55 below the slide 28. Thisshutter plate is proportioned whereb in a forwardly advanced positionthereof, i. e.,- to the left as illustrated in Fig.5,it extends'a'crossthe forwardmost control arm 34 and corresponding slide aperture 49" andprevents "-upward' "move": ment of the arm, while permitting upward ni'dveg" ment-of the arm-13a under theinfluen'e of its spring 5|, byexposing the aperture 49 in the s'lide."I-Iowever,'whenshiftedrearwardly, or to the right from the position shown infFigT2th'e'shutter covers aperture 49" and preventsupwara movementof arm 33', whilepermitting'the hther spring 5| to'urge arm 34 upwardly in response tomovemento'f the outer control'memb 40.

"The movement "of shatter time a; g L tedat the aeh neriameloafiaharness; downwardly depending actuating arm' 58. This arm has a'pin'articles by arm '33 coincident with the elevation of member 4% todischarge said article onto the slide extension '48. The presence of asmaller article at the feeler results in depression thereof,

under the force of a coiled actuating spring '56 (see Fig I 1) ,toithedotted line position of Fig. 5, with consequent masking of aperture 49"and upward travel of arm 34 when member 40 rises) Thus succeedingarticles are restrained by arm 34. In this way a selective automaticconnecnon of the outer control member 40 with'oneor the other of thearms 33, 34 is efiected,'accord"- ing to the size of the article presentat the feeler,

preventing discharge of saidarticle until the proper phase of the cycleis reached for its advancement by pusher 44, and restraining forwardtravel of the succeedin articles. When released by member 40 theforwardmost article drops onto slide extension 48 whence itisadvanced'by the pusher bar for the purpose ofbeing associated with andbanded between a pairof paper or like flexible webs 6|, 62. These websare drawn from appropriate spools (not shown) as banding proceeds andthrough suitable webguiding and/or idler means, here conventionallyshown and designated 63, 64, which are of a well known type and requireno further description. 7 p V Banding is performed by-themultipleindividual banding and sea'lin'g heads I6, each 00- acting with anoscillatorytucker of the type shown in Fig. 1, and the'stroke ofpusher'bar 44 is such that the article engaged thereby is advanceduniformly to a predetermined position relative to said tucker and acoacting head. In effecting advance of said article the same is broughtinto'contact with the rearmostof the previously banded articles, so thatthe entire precedingseries of banded articles is advanced by the pusherbar a; distance corresponding exactly to the diameter or transversewidth of the yet unbanded articleat its rear, and no more. Henceunfailingly uniform relative positioning of the articles is achieved,regardless of their size. The sealing heads l6 are characterized by anovel independent floating mount to take advantage of this feature.

i Tucker 55 is of a curved, fiat, blade-like conformation, having aforked extremity 66 for a purpose to be described, and is appropriatelypivoted on the machinez'frameat 61. It is normally urged downwardly in aclock-wisedireetion by a coil compression spring 68 which bears againsta fixed frame support 69. At its other extremity the tucker carries acam follower roller H! which rides the surface of chain driven cam 21,whereby the tucker is given a uniform oscillatory movement intime'd:relation to the movement of article pusher bar 44' and-the individualmovements of the sealing heads I6. The timing is such that the uppermostweb BI is engaged and depressed by tucker 65 immediately followingcompletion l dv nsem nt therm le d a t l b.

h a previbu' as a unitary part of member 8|.

ii l 724 1 downwardly into snug engaging relation to, and around therear. surfaceof, thelast advanced article; Coincident with the movementof the tucker, and when it has reached the bottom of its downwardstroke, the banding head I6 is brought into cooperative relation to thetwo banding webs in a manner now tobe described, thereafter completingthe banding operation.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, wherein structural details ofthe banding heads and the control apparatus therefor are illustrated, inconjunctionwith Fig. 1 wherein the same are generally shown, the hubofspider I4 carries a multiplicity of laterally aligned-pivot ears IIbetween each of which the pivotal base 'I2 of one of the heads I6 isswingably mounted by a pin 73 carried by the ears II. Base I2 has aflattened, plate-dike upper section I4, of generally rectangular,O-shapedoutline, which is radially telescoped in the rectangular sleeveportion of a slide support I6, the latter having a laterally extendingpivot ear I! on which a latching dog I8 is adapted to be pivoted (seeFig. 3). Support 16 carries side shoulders or flanges I9 adapted tosupport the elongated side pieces 80 of a clamp member SI forlongitudinal sliding movement at right angles to the plane of rotationof the head I6.v Member 8| is provided with an elongated clampingelement 82 disposed centrally over and paralleling the side pieces 80 inspaced radial 4 relation thereto, being connected to said pieces Themember 8i also carries a follower roller 83 on one side thereof forcoaction with a fixed cam 84 suitably mounted on the machine frame I0,which roller is maintained in contact with the cam by means of a tensionspring 85 extending between the slide support 16 and the clamping member8|.

In the operative condition of the head I6 the upper section 14 of thebase I2 is fully telescoped in the sleeve 15 of support 16, which inturn slidably receives the side pieces 80 of theclamping member 8|. Theradially outermost. portion of said section in this position is exposedoutwardly-of said sleeve and. is receivable in an internal rectangularrecess 86 of a platen member generally designated 81. So disposed, theplaten rests on' the side pieces 80 to hold the head in assembly, beingsecured relative to the platen member by set screws 88 fitted in alignedopenings of the parts, shown as 89 on the platen and as 90 on the basesection I4. A coil compression spring BI is interposed between the slidesupport 76 and the base I2, being located in the central aperture of thelatter, and said spring serves to maintain the support I6 and clampingmember 02 in radially outwardly extended position relative to platen 81,yielding during engagement of the latter by clamping element 82 duringthe sealing phase of the banding operation. 7

, Said platen is preferably provided with a row of web perforatingelements 92 extending transversely thereof, for coaction with theclamping element to perforate the webs BI, 62- between each article of aseries ofbanded articles, in a well known manner. Likewise, the platenhas cushioning and web stripping pads 93 of resilient material on eitherside of the perforating elements, disposed flush with the latter or evenextending radially somewhat beyond elements 02. As stated, clampingelement 82 has radial movement relative to the associated platen 81 tobring these parts into websealing relation but prior to this movementelement 82 is moved laterally on the support 'lfi s liding onthe sideshoulders 10 8. ofrthe latter. from. the position shown -in'FignIl to aposition. directly opposed to the platen, in

the radial sense. Member BI is normally held in.

the position of Fig. 3 by the engagement of pivoted latching dog .18 ina detent recess 94 on the member, the dog being urged counterclockwiseby a torsion spring 95 surrounding its pivot. However, the dog I8 has anintegral tail member 96 which slides on a surface cam 9'! carried by afixed cam plate 98 on frame extension II, and at a predetermined pointin the sealing cycle is rocked to release the dog from recess 94,Whereupon member 8Islides under the force of coil spring 85 intoradially opposed relation to the platen 81. The latter at this timeunderlies the lowermost web 62, as will be explained. Radial inwardmovement of'the sealing member, when thus positioned, is broughtabout bythe coaction of a cam follower roller 99 on said member with afixedsurface cam I00 on the machine frame.

As pointed out above it is desirable that the individual sealing headsI6have a floating mounting on the spider i4 during the banding phase andto this end they are each freely pivoted on a pin I3 in the ears II, andeach is urged counterclockwise about this pivot by a torsion spring I0I.

Assurance is had that each head I6 will be maintained in proper radialposition to permit properly timed cam actuation of dog I3- and resultantinward travel of the clamping member, as described, by the provision ofa locking pin I02 for each of the heads, slidably mounted in a radialextension I03 of the spider I4, to one side of the pivot ears II. PinI02.is urged to an outward, inoperative position, during the sealingphase of the operation, by means of a coil spring I04 encircling itsshank between spider extension I03 and enlarged end' I05 of the pin,thereby unlocking the head I6 from the spider during the sealing phase.Said sealingphase takes place throughout an approximately arc in the 360rotation of the head carrying spider, during which the head I6 floats onits pivot, subject to the action of spring IOI. During the remainder ofthe rotation of the spider the pin is urged forwardly by a head lockupcam I06 for engagement in a recess I01 of the head base I2, therebyholding the head in a trulyradial relation to the axis of the spider.

When head lockup pin I02 reaches a low point on cam I06 the spring I04causes it to be disengaged from head I6, whereupon said head is rockedforwardly about its pivot by spring IOI, as it is advanced bodily-byspider I4. The parts are timed so that, in so rocking, the head willengage the tucker 65, and to this end the platen 6'l-of each headcarries a pair of the laterally and radially outwardly extendingregistering ears 8? which engage in the forked end 66 of the tucker 65as head I6 rocks forwardly about its pivot. Thus the tucker and head areunfailingly brought into proper radial register at the sealing point,the floating character of the mount for the head insuring this, eventhough the articles operated on should vary substantially in size. InFig. 3 I illustrate a practical method for mounting on the machine framethe various fixed surface cams whereby the movements of the headcomponents are governed, enabling the machine to beadapted to thebanding of different. articles, or to the per formance of banding andsealing operations involving different timing or phase relationships,with a minimum of alteration of the machine. While illustratedparticularly in relation to the latch dog releasecam 9 7 and the headlockup,

cam I06, it will be apparent that-similar-provisions may bereadilyresorted to forthe mounting of the clamping memberdepressing-pain I09 and the latch reset cam-84. -Incidentally;- thelatter have been shown-only in-a most'diagrammaticfashion in Figs.- 1and 3 forsi mplicity of disclosure-and no attempthas been made, otherthan in a general way, to illustratethe-exact relationship or outlinesof any-of the cams- Referring to Fig/3ft will be 'noted thatcams 91 andI06 are cast as integral parts ofthe-cam plate 98, which has a-centralbore-"108 fitted-over the boss I 3 of bracket, H. Arcuate openings I09are formed in the plate 98 coaxial witlr tlie same 'larly"aecurateftimedrelation to one another by 'the'rnovem'ents of'the spider, pusherbariand tucker." 1, H 7' Letj'itbe assumed thatbanding of anarticle29'has been completejdgby thecoaction of the tucker65an'd head I'6;andthat the secondynext succeeding article has in the meantime beensubjected to'feeler, 56,xwhereby to ascertain its size and -.to positiontheshutter plate fiagco rdingly, as described. Tucker165 rises'frorn thesolid linelpo'sition"toth'e' dotted line position of Fig, ,1 as pusherbar 44 advances the immediately next 'su'cceeding'article froni'th platee'Xten i1 48 ,(onto, which it has been dropped by con '01 member 140)"toward"the sealingfpointf time a seali'nghead leis also approachingfthesealing'point, being held inrigi'd radial-relation to thejspider [4 bythe engagement of up p 1 i c ss 1 nfth ,hfi ld i i ha one ra sed ureitqi a i U15- Th ar i to b ende mi fnew a l advanced' by bar 44' into"engagement with thelast b ed t lei tith fl al n n u .u forward strokeof; the-pusher bar, and the tieceding series of banded articles scorrespondingly advanced until the artiele to beiba nded is properlylocated relative to" tucker 65; which is descending at th'is time'towardthe full line positionof Fig. 1 The nearmgmoummg of the head =15enables some free"movemnt' 'tliereof about its pivotpoint, after theclamping elements havebeen brought into operation, in the mannerhereinafter described; hence the pusher b'ar lll is the sole source ofpower fora'dvancing the articles, the heads merely swinging idly-ontheir pivots-as such advance takes place. V As'jf "has approached the'sealing point; the p1aten81 of the'head has come-into engagement withthe lowermost banding' 'w'e'bwl; said web resting on the platen betweenthe lateral regis tering ears 81'. The head slides forwardly under theweb 62 as the spider' 'r'ot'ates; and also slips beneath said webunderthe' force' 'of spring I01 when 'the time comes-fordisengagement'of lock up pin' lfliirdmthe head,"whih occurs atthe end ofcam- IOBQ-ThepartS are radially posi tionedas-shown in 3--A'. I 1'.

- ---During* all-this-time the-sealing element -82 of "the head is heldin" the retractedpositionto the right as shown in 3-by means-of thelatch dog 1'8; However; --a'sthehead is --unlocked-:--by the retractionof-pin l-02-,-beingas a 'result rocked forwardly about "itspivotal axis-spring---l Oil untilthe-registering ears -8:'i' engage tucker fork $6,-thetail 96 of-- said deg-ridesonto a rise "on the --latch release camSL' thereby disengaging the dog from -detent notch 94 on -the sea-lingmember 8 i; This enables coil spring- 85 to snap said member to theleft, asv-iewed in Fig.3; into radially overlying relation toplaten 81and :the perforating elements 92 of the latter; Cam -fol- "lower 99 isalso brought into lateral alignment with the sealing memberdepressingcamlflll, in themanner illustrated:in dotted lines Fig.- 3, for ensuingactuation therebyw I In shifting to the-left asdescribed the sealingelement 82 enters betwteenthetips oftthe forked end (it o'f -tucker 65which in shifting' downwardly, has inthe meantime engagedethe upper:web- -6 I I r and drawn thesame :downwardlyninto encircling :relationto the larticleabeingn-banded asshownwin Figrtl; .This is.possible-lsinceiitlre sealing element has been automaticallysalignedwith the tucker byregisteriearsfifl a. .Hencesaid eiement radiallyoverlies the upper weblfil ,-;which is stretched across thetips of said;forked..,-.tucker end, and the parts .Lare properly: positioned forsealing. s. s. l :flIhe tucker 65 immediately withdraws yerticallystothe. .dottedline positionlofzFig; land the series ofarticlesccontinuesltoitravelforward, being accompanied. by the spiderand the; several clamping ;heads whichhare in clamping .-,engage mentwith webs 6l,;62..; Itshould; be understood 1 that theeengageme t ofregistering ears 811 .with, tucker) 5.5,,andl2hfli1lr ward .travel of.member ,.8,l take; place practically instantaneously so, thattheangular, advance, of head I 6 is. not noticeably, interrupted.;;;,Howeyer, h floating, prin ur ed mo ntof theheadw l permit, some slehtchesitation. of. memb tfi La this, time,,,if necessary, amply,suffic' nt to enable element 82 to travel laterally;int positionforclamping, the. webs, against its, platen as soon as this-occurs thetuclgenretra cally,v 1 :Q; As the head advancesfurther the -sealingelement 82 inquestionis brought, into radial clamp.- ing ,relationitoosaid ,platenuiiLlzand the Well stretched over the latter, by enga ementof its associated follower roller. 9 9 with depressingcam Hi0;see:.Fig.1 .3,B lAccordingly the, websare sealed together asuwell .as operforated between the artic1es',:whi1e. theseries ofarticles continuesto feed forwardly; .It is contemplated thatna heat sealed bondof thewebs shall. take place, hence thelatterare. provided with an appropriatethermally fusible coating. .The necessary. heat for, this purpose. maybev provided in any suitable manner, with. thetdetails .of whichvthis;invention is not concerned. For example, thisimay be 8,6!-complished by the association ofa suitableresistance or high frequencytype heating unitjn the head, i. e, in the sealing element 82; or by theprovision of a heatedsurface orelement over which thewebs BI and/or 62-may preliminarily pass to soften the sealing material, the-pressurebetween the sealing element and platen complete ing'thebond,'or,.otherwise;; Specificpdetails of such instrumentalities havenot been illustrated since, :as stated;'they arenotia part of this inVentionQ": 1; V i' 11 ifhedepres ine am i ntai s t S al element 82depressed through an arc sufiicient to insure a thorough fusion andsetting of the sealin ateri l on hawebs. a e which the roller 99,passes, out from beneath said cam. At this point the element Bl is againelevated relative to the platen by coil springtl. Immediately followingelevation of the sealing element, cam follower roller 83, rides onto.the surface of latch reset cam,84, with the result that sealingmemberBi, is, retracted to the right (as in Fig. 3-) against the forceof, spring 85, until latch dog 18 engages in detent notch 94 to securethe member inretracted position. When this movement is completed theseries of banded articles is free .to be stripped from the head it andmay be delivered onto anadjacent discharge surface H2 for removal, theheadsjclearing beneath said surface .as they travel forward.

v.As afmal operation, head lockup pin U2. is again engaged withthecamI06, urgingthe same intorecess Ill! inthe base 12 of head it, wherebythe head is rigidly sustained in a truly radial relation to the spiderMfor the remaining rotation1of the latter. Re-engagement takes placeJunfailingly, inasmuch. as said recess is of sufby engaging the elementwith the tucker 65, re-

gardless of possible variations in the diameter of the article. Theheads are individually releasedadjacent thesealing point to enable theaforesaid individual, floating movement but following sealing andretraction of the sealing element 82, are immediately restored to theirlocked operations of each head may originate at an unvarying point inthe rotation of spider. M.

This apparatus is characterizedprimarily by the substantially increasedoutput capacity thereof, as compared to previous machines of a similarclass. Roughly a five foldincrease in speed of operation is madepossible, without sacrifice of effectiveness in any way. The relativelyprotracted period of engagement of the sealing element and platen withthe webs insures .an unfailingly-stron'g, displacement-resisting bondbetween the webs. In other words, the use of a plurality of individualsealing heads. enables a sealing period of the same duration as, orlonger duration than, that taking place in similar present apparatushaving but a fraction of the output of the herein described machine. Theautomatic self alignment of the heads relative to articles of variablesize is also a feature of primary (importance in such a high-speedapparatus, without' which jamming and damage to or destruction of theproduct would be likely, if not probable.

.trolled accurately timed. fashion is likewise of relation to thespiderin order that the cycle of considerable importance in equipment of thistype, since'its speed would be meaningless in the possible by the springurged pivotal and floating mounting of the heads it an the spider. Theindependence of movement of said heads relative to the spider alsoenables the pusher barat to be utilized as the means for advancing allthe banded articles in series, as described above.

Those skilled in the art will readily perceive that many changes andsubstitutions are possible in connection with the above described apparatus, as well as in the character of the banding operation performedthereby, w.ithout in anyway departing from the spirit of the inventi on.I therefore desire" that the invention be construed, not in an undulylimitedsense, but to include iall such changes and substitutions, beinglimited only as reasonably indicated in the appended claims. a w

I claim:

1. In an article banding apparatus ofthe type including means to supplyarticles to bebanded and handing material therefor at a sealing station,means to shape said material and seal the same in banding relation tothe articles, compris ing a traveling support carrying a plurality ofsimilar, individual sealings heads, means 'engageable by said heads toregister the same relative to an article at said sealing station, andmeans to effect sealing'of said material by. said heads at said station.I

2. In an article banding apparatus of the type including me'ans'tosupply articles to be banded and banding material therefor at a sealingstation, means to shape said material and seal the same in bandingrelation to the articles, comprising a traveling support carrying aplurality of similar, individualsealing' heads, means engageable by saidheads to register the same relative to an article at said sealingstation, each of said heads including relatively movable sealingmembers, and means to effect sealing of said material by said heads atsaid station, including means to cause relative sealing movementof saidmembers.

' 3'. In an article bandingapparatus of the type including means tosupply articles to be banded and banding material'therefor at a sealingstation, means to shapesaidmaterial and seal the same in bandingrelation to the articles, comprising a traveling support carrying aplurality of similar, individual sealirig heads, means engageable bysaid heads to register the same relative to an article. at said sealingstation, said last named means engaging saidin'aterial to hold the sameat said sealing point for engagement by said heads, and meansto effectsealing of said material by said heads atsaid station.

4. In an article. banding apparatus of the type including means tosupply articles to be banded and banding material therefor at a sealingpoint, means to shape said'material andseal the same in banding relationto the articles, comprising a traveling support carryinga plurality ofsimilar, individual sealing heads past said point, each of said headsincluding relatively movable sealing members, means to hold saidmaterial at said sealing point-for engagement by saidmembers, and meansto effect sealing of said material by 'said' heads at said point,including means to cause relative sealingmovement of said members.

' 5. In an article banding apparatus of the type including means tosupply articles to be banded and handing material therefor at a sealingpoint, means to shape said material and seal the same in bandingrelation to the articles, comprising a travelingsupportcarrying.aplurality of similar, individual sealing heads pastsaid point. and

analyzer n1earls .to efiect sealing of said;material by'said heads atsaid point, said heads projecting from said support and beingmountedthereon for in- ,dividualrfloatingmovement relative to thesupport during at least abortion of the banding and sealing cycle, e v

6. In an article banding apparatus of the type including meansito supplyarticles to be handed andbanding material therefor at a sealing point,.means to shape said material and seal the same in banding relation tothe articles, eomprising a traveling support carrying aplurality ofsimilar, 1 individual sealing heads past said point, each of said headsinclnding relatively movable sealing members, andineans to, effectsealing of said material by saidheads at said point, ineluding means tocause relative sealing movement of said members, said heads projectingfrom said support and being mounted thereon for individual, floatingmovement relative to the support during at least a portion of thebanding and sealn c c I I 7. In an article banding machine of the typeincluding means for feeding articles to be banded and means forsupplying web material to the articles to be banded, rotativelytraveling bandin'gjneans to secure said web material about saidarticles, including a head having relatively movable members engageablewith saidmaterial to ,sealthe same about any article, means mountingsaid head for rotativeadvancement as a unit with the articles duringsealing of the web material by said members and means engageable with atleast one ofsaid head members during said rotative advancement tocontrol the relative movement thereof. I

8'. In an article banding machine of the type including meansforadvancing articles to be bandedand means for supplying a pair of webson opposite sides of the articies, banding means to shape and securesaid webs about said articles, including a reciprocable tuckerengageable with one of the webs topositionthe sameadjacent the other andin surrounding relation to an article, a sealing head. having relativelyreciprocable members engaging and securing the thus positioned webstogether, and means mounting said head for rotary travelas a unit duringsecure: ment of the Webs by said members.

, 9 .In a banding; and sealing machine. of the type including'means toadvance articles'to be bandedand means to supply banding materialadjacent said articles, a reciprocable tucker engageable with saidmaterial to shape the same relative to an article, a rotary supporthaving a plurlity, of radially extending sealingheads pivotedthereon forfloating movement relative to the support, each of said heads includinga platen and a sealing member coacting with said platen, said sealingmember being laterally shiftable relative tg the platen and at anang1e;to the plane of rotation of the heads to align the member with theplaten and being radially movable relative tothe platen to clamp saidmaterial between the sealing member and platen ineans shifting saidsealing member laterally to position adjacentsaid tucker and material,engaged thereby, and means to actuate the sealing mem: ber radially intimed relation to the lateral shifting thereof and; into clampingrelation to said tucker engageable withgsaid; material to shape the samerelative toan article, a support having a' ,plurality of radiallyextending sealing heads pivoted thereon for floating movement relativeto the support, each of said heads including a platen engageablewithsaid tucker to thereby align thehea'ds uniformly relative to thearticles regardless ,of variations in the size thereof, andasealingmember coactingwith said platen, said sealing member beinglaterally shiftable relative to the platen and at an angle to the planeof rotation of the heads to align the memberwith the platen, and beingradially movable relative .tothe platen to clamp said material betweenthe sealing member and platen, means shifting said sealingmemberlaterally to position adjacent said tucker'and materialengagedthereby, and means to actuate the sealing member radially in timedrelation to the lateral shifting thereof and into clamping relation tosaid material. 11. In a banding and sealing machine of the typeincluding means to advance articles to: be banded and meansto supplybanding material adjacent said articles, a reciprocable tuckerengageable with said material to shape the same relative to an article,a continuously rotatable support having a plurality of radiallyextending sealing heads pivoted thereon for floating movement relativeto the support, each of said heads including a platen engageable withsaid tucker to thereby align the heads uniformly relative to thearticles regardless of variations, in the size thereof, and a sealingmember coacting with said platen, said sealing member being laterallyshift able relative to the platen and at an angle to the plane ofrotationlof the heads to align the member with the platen, and beingradially mov able relative to the platen to clamp said material betweenthe-sealing member and platen, means shifting said sealing memberlaterally to position adjacent said tucker and material engaged thereby,and means to actuate the sealing member radially in timed relation tothe lateral shifting thereof and intoclamping relation to said mater1-=- I I 12. In a banding and sealing machine of the type including.-,means to advance articles tobe banded and means to supply bandingmaterial adjacent said articles, a reciprocable tucker en-' gageablewith said material to shape the same in encircling relationto anarticle, a rotary support havinga plurality of radiallyextending-sealing heads pivoted; thereon for floating movementrelativetothe'support, each of said heads including a; platen and coactingsealing member and being engageablewith said tucker in thepivotalmovement of the. heads,.to-thereby align the-heads relative tothe tucker, said sealing-member being laterally shiftable relative-tothe platen and at arr-angle t0,the p1ane of rotation of the headsintoradial alignment with the platen, and being radi-v ally movable relativeto-the platen to clamp said material between the sealing member andplaten, means shifting said sealingmember laterally, to, alignthe-same-withthe platen, and means to aotuate the sealingmember radiallyin timed relation-to the lateral shifting thereof forsealing engagementwith :said material.

1; 13; In 5 a banding and sealing machine 'oft'he type'gincluding meansto advance'articles to 'be banded, andmeans. to supply. banding materialadjacent :said articles: a-reciproc'able tucker en gageable withsaidnmateriali toshape the same inencirclingrelation to an article, arotarysupport having a plurality of :radially extending sperm sealingheads pivoted thereon for floating movement relative to the support,spring meansurging the headsina common direction about the pivot pointsthereof, each of said heads including a platen and coacting sealingmember and being engageable with said tucker in the spring urged pivotalmovement of the heads, to thereby align the heads relative to thetucker, said sealing member being'laterally shiitable relative to theplaten and at an angle to the plane of rotation of the heads into radialalignment with the platen, and being radially movable relative to theplaten to clamp said material between the sealing mem-- ber and platen,means shifting said sealing member laterally to align the same with theplaten, and means to actuate the sealing member radially in timedrelation to the lateral shifting thereof banded and means to supplybanding material adjacent said articles, a reciprocable tuckerengageable .with said material to shape the same in encircling relationto an article, said tucker having a forked material engaging elementacross which the material is disposed in being engaged by the tucker, arotary support having a plurality of radially extending sealing headspivoted thereon for floating movement relative to the support, each ofsaid heads including a platen and coasting sealing member and beingengageable with said forked element in the pivotal movement of theheads, to thereby align the heads relative to the tucker, said sealingmember bein laterally shiftable relative to the platen and at an angleto the plane of rotation of the heads into radial'alignment with theplaten, and being radially movable relative to the platen to clamp saidmaterial between the sealing member and platen, means shifting saidsealing member laterally in the space between the ends of said forkedelement to align the same with the platen, and means to actuate thesealing member radially in timed relation to the lateral shiftingthereof for sealing engagement with said material.

15. In a banding and sealing machine of the type including means toadvance articles to be handed and means to supply bandin materialadjacent said articles, a tucker engageable with said material to shapethe same in encircling relation to an article, said tucker having aforked end across which the material is disposed in being engaged by thetucker, a traveling support having a plurality of sealing heads mountedthereon, each of said heads including a platen and coacting sealingmember, said sealing member being laterally shiftable relative to theplaten and at anangle to the plane of rotation of the heads to bring thesame into alignment with the platen in the space defined by said tuckerend, and being radially movable relative to the platen to clamp thematerial disposed across said end between the sealing member and platen,means shifting said sealing member laterally, and means to actuate thesealing member radially in timed relation to the lateral shiftingthereof.

16. In a banding and sealing machine of the type including means toadvance articles to be banded and means to supply banding materialadjacent said articles, a tucker engageable with said material to shapethe same in encircling relation to an article, said tucker having aforked end across which the material is disposed in being engaged by thetucker, a traveling support having a pmralit'y of sealing heads indictedthereon'for floating movement relative to the support, each of saidheads including aplaten and ceacting sealing member and being engage- 5able with said forked tucker end by the floating movement of the heads,said sealing member being'la'terally shiftable relative to the platenand at an angle to the plane of rotation of the heads to bring the sameinto alignment with the platen the space defined by said tucker end, andbeing radially removable relative to the platen to clamp the materialdisposed across said end between the sealing member and platen, meansshifting said sealing member laterally, and means to'a'ctua'tethesealing member radially in timed relation to the lateral shiftingthereof.

17. man article banding machine, means to secure continuous web materialin encircling relation to 'individual articles of an advancing series,comprising a head havin a pair of relatively movable clamping members,means to actuate at least one of said members in a direction at an angleto the direction of advance of said series to position the same betweensaid articles with said members on opposite sides of the material, meansto actuate the thus positioned clamping members 7 in another directioninto material clamping position and to maintain the same in saidposition during a sealing phase, and means to advance the heads in timedrelation to the article advance during said phase.

18. In an article banding machine, a sealing head having relativelymovable clamping mem bers means to advance said head comprising atraveling'support and means to mountthe head on said support forfloating movement relative to the latter in the planeof advance of thehead, and means operatively connected to at least one of said clampinmembers and actuable by the advance of said head to, actuate theclamping members to material clamping and sealing position and tomaintain the same in said position during at least a portion of theadvance of the head. I

1'9. In an article banding machine, a sealing head having relativelymovable clamping members, means to advance said head rotatively,comprising a traveling rotary support and means to mount the head onsaid support for floating movement relative to the latter in the planeof advance of the head, and means to actuate the clamping members tomaterial clamping and sealing position and to maintain the same in saidposition during at least a' portion of the rotary advance of the head.

20. In an article banding machine adapted to secure Web material inencircling relation to articles of an advancing series, a sealing headhav ing relatively movable clamping members en- :60 gageable with saidmaterial, a traveling support,

means mounting said head on said support for floating movement in thedirection of travel of the support during a portion of the cycle ofoperation of the machine, means locking the head 135 in fixed relationto the support during another portion of said cycle, and means toactuate the clamping members of the head to material clamping positionduring said first named portion.

21. In an article banding machine adapted to secure web material inencircling relation to ar ticles of an advancing series, a sealing headhaving relatively movable clamping members engageable with saidmaterial, a traveling support, "75 means mountingsaid head on saidsupport for floating movement in the direction of. travel of the supportduring a portion of the cycle of'oper ation of'the machine,meanslocking'. the head in fixed relation to the support during, anotherpor tion'of said cycle, means to actuate the clamping members of thehead to material clamping post tion during said first named portion,'andmeans engageable with said head toj insure registry thereof relative tosaid, series prior to operation of said actuating means. I I

22. In an apparatus for banding articles of variable size, areciproc'able article" dvancing" member, article feeler meansresponsivetothe size of said articles, means to position articles ffcrengagement by said member, means controlled by said feeler means tocontrol operation of said article positioning means" in accordancewithticle size, means for imparting a predetermined constant stroke. to saidmember effective toadvance articles engaged thereby to predeterminedrelation to a sealing station, regardless of size, and a travelingsealing member having means errgageable with banding material'at saidstation to seal the same in banding relation to the article;

23. In an apparatus for banding articles of variable size, areciprocable article advancing member, article feeler means responsiveto the size of said articles, means to position article's'for engagementby said member, means controlled by said feeler means to controloperation of said article positioning means in accordance arbandingmember to register the same and having means engageable with the thuspositioned banding material at said station to seal the same in banding,relation to the article, a traveling support for said. sealing member,and means mountmg the. sealing member for floating movement on saidsupport to enable unfailing engagement and registry with the bandingmember, regardless ofarticle' size. I

26. In an apparatus for handing articles of variable size, a.reciprocable article advancing member, article feeler' means responsiveto the size of said articles, means to positionarticles for engagementby said member, means controlled by said feeler means to controloperation of said article. positioning means in accordance with articlesize, means for imparting a predetermined constant stroke to said membereffective to ad Vance articiesengaged thereby to predetermined relationto a sealing sLat'i'on, regardless of size, a reciprocable bandingmember engageable with banding, material to position the same about anticle size, means for imparting a 'predetermined 1 constant stroke tosaid member effective to advance articles engaged thereby topredetermined relation to a sealing station, regardless of size,- a'traveling sealing member having means engageable with banding materialatsaid station to seal the same in banding relation to the article, andmeans adjacent said station engagea-ble by said sealing member toregister the latter relative to an article, regardless of its size.

24. In an apparatus for banding articles of variable size, areciprocable article advancing member, means for imparting apredetermined constant stroke to said member effective to advancearticles engaged thereby to predetermined position adjacent a sealingstation, regardless of size, a reciprocable banding member engageablewith banding material to position the same about an article at saidstation, a. traveling sealing member engageable with the banding membertoregister the same and havingmeans; engageable with the thus positionedbanding mates rial at said staticn to. seal the same in banding relationto the article, a continuously rotative traveling support for saidsealing member, and means mounting the sealingjmember for floating.movement on said support to enableunfailing engagement and registry withthe banding member, regardless of article size.

25. In an apparatus for banding articles of variable size, areciprocable article advancing member, article feeler means responsiveto the size of said articles, means to position articles for engagementby said member, means controlled by said feeler means to controloperation of said article positioning mean in accordance with articlesize, means for imparting a predetermined constant stroke to said membereffective to advance articles engaged thereby to predetermined positionadjacent a sealing station, regardless of size, a reciprocable bandingmember engageable with banding material to position the same about anarticle at said station, a traveling sealing member engageable with thearticle at said. station, and a traveling sealing member" engageablewith the banding member to register the same relative to the article,said sealing, member having means engageable with the thus positionedbanding material at said station; to seal the. same in banding relationto the article.

27'. In. an article, banding machine, means to effect a controlledsupply of articles to be handed regardless of size, including areciprocable' discharge; element operable to and from a position forengagement with the forward article of a series to restrain the same anda withdrawn article-discharge position, a plurality of recip rocablearticle restraining elements "operable rearwardl'y' of said" dischargeelement to restrain subsequent. articles at the time of. discharge ofthe forward article; article controlled" means se lectively governing,the movementof said last named elements in response to article size, anda. constant-stroke article advance member effective to forwarddischarged: articles to position adjacent a banding station.

28. In, an article banding machine, means to efi'ect a controlledsupplyof articles-to be banded regardless of size, including areciproc'able discharge element operable to and from a position forengagement with the forward article of a series to restrain thesame anda withdrawn article discharge position, a plurality of reciproca'blearticle restraining elements operable rearwardly' of said dischargeelement in response to movement thereof to restrain subsequent articlesat; the time. ofdischa-rge of the forward article, article controlledmeans selectively governing the movement of said last" named elements inresponse" to. article size, and a constant-stroke article advance membereffective to forwarddischarged articles to position adjacent a bandingstation.

29. In an article banding machine, means to effect a controlled supplyof articles to be banded regardless of size, including a reciprocabledischarge element operable to and from a position for engagement withthe forward article of a series to restrain the same and a withdrawnarticle discharge position, a plurality of reciprocable articlerestraining elements operable rearwarly of said discharge element torestrain subsequent articles at the time of discharge of the forwardarticle, article controlled means selectively governing the movement ofsaid last named elements in response to article size, and aconstant-stroke article advance member effective to forward dischargedarticles to position adjacent a banding station.

30. In a article banding machine of the type including means to advancearticlesin series past a banding station and means to supply web bandingmaterial adjacent said station, means movable adjacent said stationtransversely of the direction of article advance to engage said materialand shape the same in bandingrelation' to an article at the station, andmeans traveling substantially in the direction of advance of thearticles to engage and seal said material in said article bandingrelation.

31. In an article banding machine of the type including means to advancearticles in series past a banding station and means to supply webbanding material adjacent said station, means movable adjacent saidstation transversely of the direction of article advance to engage saidmaterial and shape the same in banding relation to an article at thestation, and means traveling substantially in the direction of advanceof the articles and at an angle to the path of movement of said materialengaging means to engage and seal said material in said article bandingrelation.

32. In an article banding machine of the type including means to advancearticles in series past a banding station and means to supply webbanding material adjacent said station, means movable adjacent saidstation transversely of the direction of article advance to engage saidmaterial and shape the same in banding relation to an article at thestation, and means traveling substantially in the direction of advanceof the articles to engage and seal said material in said article bandingrelation, comprising a traveling sealing head having relatively movablematerial sealing members and means to advance the head and actuate saidmembers in timed relation to the reciprocation of the material engagingmeans.

33. In an apparatus for banding articles of variable size, areciprocable article advancing member, article feeler means responsiveto the size of said articles, means to position articles for engagementby said member, means controlled by said feeler means to controloperation of said article positioning means in accordance with articlesize, and means for imparting a predetermined constant stroke to saidmember effective to advance articles engaged thereby to predeterminedrelation to a sealing station, regardless of size.

34. In an article banding machine, means for serially feeding articlesto be banded, means for feeding banding material to the articles, aplurality of devices for banding the articles with the material, each ofsaid devices including a pair 20 of relatively reciprocable membersengageable with said material in performing a single banding operation,and means for serially presenting said devices in operative relation tothe articles and material.

35. In an article banding machine, means for serially feeding articlesto be banded, means for feeding banding material to the articles, aplurality of devices for banding the articles with the material, each ofsaid devices including a pair of relatively reciprocable membersengageable with said material in performing a single banding operation,and means for serially presenting said devices in operative relation tothe articles and material, comprising a rotary support and meansmounting the devices thereon in radial relation thereto.

36. In a packaging machine, means for serially feeding-units of thecommodity to be packaged, means for simultaneously feeding sheetmaterial, a plurality of devices for securing the material about each ofthe units, each including a pair of members andmeans mounting the samefor relative reciprocable movement, each of said devices being adaptedto act upon but one of the units at a time, means for moving saiddevices serially in a circuit in synchronization with the feedingmovement of the units to bring each of said devices into operativeassociation with one of the units, and means for causing each device tosecure the material about the associated unit.

vices into operative association with one of the units, and means forcausing each device to secure the material about the associated unitwithout interrupting the movement of either the devices or the unit.

EDWARD 0. Snow.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,986,422 Zwoyer Jan. 1, 1935 42,083,617 Salfisberg June 15, 1937 2,379,937 Sloan July 10, 1945

